To the Editor:
I have been an avid reader of CA for more than 20 years. This is the first time I have felt compelled to write. There were 2 articles in the Volume 6, No. 27 issue that I felt were over the top.
The first was the article by Jennifer Grybowski regarding the Westborough Town Seal. It is unbelievable that there should be a discussion as to whether to remove the image of a cotton gin from the seal. Eli Whitney invented a labor saving marvel. The fact that slave-owners decided that this was an opportunity to increase their slave ownership should not be construed as a black-mark against Mr. Whitney.
This is an example of a recent trend carried too far [Natick is having a similar debate, but they have a stronger case]. Westborough should continue to honor one of its most famous citizens.
In the same issue was an article by Dakota Antelman over diversity at the Northborough town offices. He states that the selectmen/women suggested that because there are no black employees at the town offices, the town should recruit someone to work there [at what we don’t know] so the town would appear to be diverse and politically correct. This is a stretch that is totally unnecessary. If the town posts a job and ends up hiring a black person [because they are the best candidate, not because they are black] fine. No problem. [I, for one, have no qualm going to the RMV and seeing half the people working there are minorities.] But the town shouldn’t try to force the issue because of PC. Next, there would be complaining that we don’t have an Asian employee. Once again, I wouldn’t care if we had one or not, but let’s not get one just to be PC and diverse.
By the way, don’t bother labeling me a racist, 4 out of 5 people in my household are of dark skin, including my wife.
George M. Eddy
Northborough
